13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

My Russian Sage is just starting to show signs of life at the bases on the Little Spires, nothing yet on the bigger ones (two different beds). My columbines have been up for a while now-most of mine are from one plant I bought ages ago that self seeded elsewhere in my garden at my old house. I moved those seedlings to the new place and I think they all came back. I don't deadhead mine so I usually get a volunteer here and there every year.

Most of my perennials are up and growing nicely. I'm surprised as how good most of my plants look this year. We did have a mild winter and that may contribute to how nice things look. That being said, I did lose, or at least they are not showing any sign of being alive, a few plants that I'm surprised about.

One is a Pink Double Delight Echinacea. It was a nice sized plant that was growing and blooming in a large pot during the summer and then planted in the veggie garden - best soil in the yard- for the winter. This spring I had planned on putting it in it's permanent spot. So far, I don't see any sign that it's alive. All of my other Echies are up and growing.

The second surprise demise seems to be an 8 year old perennial Blue Flax. I had moved this plant in 2006 from our old house when we moved here in August of that year. It has thrived and even produced seedlings that I've shared with neighbors and friends. This year there is no sign of the main plant. It did leave two seedlings that are growing a few feet away and that I'm happy to have since the main plant looks like it's not coming back.

I also lost an Icelandic Poppy that bloomed for weeks after planting last spring and then in the heat and drought of last June, it just seem to disappear. I've grown other poppies before, so I thought it may have just been going dormant in the heat. Looks like in this case dormant = dead. There is no sign of it. I do want to replace it since I got so much enjoyment from it last year.

All of these losses are something that I had not expected.

Linda

Thanks for the vote of confidence Kevin, but all credit goes to DH, he's the smart one around here. But I do the digging, so at the end of the day we balance out. :)

I like the idea of spin out bags to allow hostas to survive in beds that are planted under trees, so thanks for that suggestion, mxk. I will take that on maybe next year. I imagine that digging under a tree to install them is no easy task.

We purchased this house as new construction in 1999 with nary a tree in sight. Boy were those early years windy and barren. We are just so appreciative of having trees and shade so I am perfectly willing to deal with the consequences of having trees in the gardens. A photo is attached, showing one of the willows limbed up to make a graceful arc over the walkway, which I really love. The raised beds in question are in the background, with another willow to the left of them.

Karin, those willow leaves look so beautiful, so delicate against the blue mountains! The fact that you have a windy spot means you must also get to "hear" the branches rustling in the breezes. I think the sound of them is what I miss most about the willow I remember as a child---- that and running through the long, sweeping branches that almost touched the ground.

Molie

All those scary wisteria stories usually involve the rampant Chinese wisteria, W.sinensis. The Japanese variety, not only has much longer racemes of flowers, it is also considerably better behaved - W.floribunda.

For the OP (if he is still reading his....),

A large space is necessary to accommodate the roots and prevent any damage to the homes foundation and any other structures. Wisteria roots can reach around 100' NEVER give the plant fertilizer with nitrogen. It will sacrifice bloom for very rapid growth, and it already grows fast. Wisteria can create their own nitrogen. To help promote flowering; Some suggest to prune the roots every year by taking a shovel and splitting the shallow roots near the base. Also, to give it a fertilizer of 0-20-20.

A nice, far less aggressive (considered not aggressive at all by some), and at times reblooming alternative is wisteria frutescens. Otherwise known as American wisteria. The blooms are not nearly as fragrant or showy, but can rebloom. In my opinion, I would keep the wisteria potted, and train it up a stake to give it a tree like form.

**Avoid sinensis (Chinese). These are the most aggressive and probably the ones that self sow the easiest. Floribunda (Japanese), as campanula said, is far better but the vines and roots are still aggressive, but not as bad.

Another little tidbit...in the fall you might hear loud pops if the wisteria is close to your house. These are seed pods blowing apart and spreading their seeds a far distance. It's kind of fun, but like me if you didn't know at fist....very scary. I'll link a vid.

I hope this helps :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Wisteria blowing up.

I swear by dried blood. It's granulated, in the organic fertiliser section. Sprinkle it on the plants and at the perimeter of your property. It has no odor.

Thanks for the input. I'm going to pick up some of the deer repellant at the nursery today, then. Not sure which one I'll get, I'll see what this other nursery I'm going to has. I'm going to get it and spray my lillies ASAP! (Plus I'm working all week so if it stinks up the garden to high heck for a couple days it won't matter, I won't be out there LOL!)

This post was edited by mxk3 on Sun, May 5, 13 at 12:47

I think I want to put so much stuff in is because I don't really know what I am going for. I am going to have pots with annuals. I am going to take the larch advice and work with my two beautiful mound blue spruces. They were regular 150 and I got the for 50 because the Canadian tire put the wrong sale price on them out in the nursery and decided to honour it. Yay for me.

The house wall is 9ft + 11ft (so 20 feet in length total), the depth is 5ft 10inches along the 11ft side and 8ft 9inches on 9 ft side. The veranda wall is 3ft in the jog and the rock was is just over 4ft high. The house faces east and get sun from the early morning till about 2.

I was thinking of hydrangeas and lilies because I love them but would be open to putting anything in there. How my conifers should I put in? How many flowering shrubs? I have 6 acres of grass developed yard that I have with different trees, veggies and bushes so I can put some of my favourites in other area.

SunnyAlberta ... I live nearby at Spruce Grove ... 'Limelight' hydrangea would show off very well against that dark stone, my 'Limelight' has peformed excellent. Two years ago, I planted 'Incrediball' and for whatever the reason the plant died, though put in another one (this time situated near to the house) and the thing has wintered well, was a beauty last summer with massive blooms!. If you're into roses, 'Morden Belle' would also show nicely ... so would a 'Ville de Lyon' clematis ...

Terrance

Try Joy Creek Nursery.
Have always gotten great things from them

I bought 9 doubles from Pine Knot Farms a few weeks ago when they came to Plantasia in Charleston, SC. They are gorgeous and super healthy.

There isn't a Gaillardia named Peach Melba that I know of. Did you perhaps mean Heuchera Peach Melba? Or the peachy colored Gaillardia 'Arizona Apricot'?

If it is the coral-bell you will definitely know if it is dead or not. I've found 'Marmalade' to be a much longer lived coral-bell than most in the orange-y shades.

If it was a Gaillardia you may try a Coreopsis (tickseed). Lots of yellow varieties- 'Nana' is a nice dwarf one. The coppery 'Sienna Sunset' is also great if you needed something in that shade.

I don't grow acanthus either, but I would give it a bit more time. It depends largely on the species planted too; some are hardier than others. If it is dead, Baptisia (false indigo) may be a replacement option because it has "spiky" like flowers.

I'm sure others will have more ideas too ;-)
CMK

D'oh! It's Gallo Peach, not Peach Melba.

The butterfly bushes are fine--in fact, they never completely lost all their green leaves even in the most brutal part of winter.

Coreopsis might work.

Baptisia is beautiful but I wonder if it's too big? Acanthus sends up a narrower bunch of spikes almost like foxglove. Baptisia looks pretty bushy, and it's going to be next to a hydrangea bush.

Maybe it would make more sense to have the subject line read Plant of the Cetenary rather than 'perennial'

I had tried to change it earlier but one cannot edit the "subject of a posting". Not a glaring error given that if one is interested all is revealed when one visits that link.

After 100 years, someone gardening for almost 40 should have at least heard of them all before. Maybe they are more well known on the other side of the pond.

I noticed some checkered lily (fritillaries) flowers were chomped off but the flowers were on the ground next to the stems. Must be the squirrels!

I have resorted to daffodils too. My yard is an explosion of yellow at the moment.

I have rabbits..and squirrels..and lots of tulips..not saying it's not a challenge, but I drip garlic water all over the area..the buggers never come near the strong garlic smell.

I suppose if the tulips were near my front door...the smell might be noticeable...

Your garden was beautiful last year. I know you are so anxious to get out there and enjoy it. Hope the warm weather comes soon.

Both photos are beautiful! Wow.